This week, I had the pleasure of meeting with local entrepreneurs Lindsay Jacobs and Melissa Stewart, founders of Fresh Plates. If you saw our recent Facebook post, you know that Fresh Plates is teaming up with the Richfield School District to host after-school programs for young chefs, teaching them how to cook and eat local and healthy foods through a hands-on approach.

Lindsay and Melissa were quick to praise Rob Smolund of “Open to Business” for the key role he played in helping them launch Fresh Plates. The Open to Business program is under the umbrella of the Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers (MCCD). Open to Business helps new and early stage businesses access the technical assistance they need to grow and prosper. The program also provides access to small business loans for emerging entrepreneurs who face challenges in accessing the commercial banking system. According to the Open to Business website, MCCD has loaned over $6.7 million to over 500 entrepreneurs for business start-up or expansion projects since 2003.

Open to Business doesn’t just work with new businesses. It’s advisers also work with early stage and growing businesses. If your business needs help with accounting and record keeping, business acquisition, business start-up, business plan development, cash flow financial, business analysis, loan packaging, networking, operations, strategic planning, and commercial real estate analysis, consider contacting Rob Smolund at Open to Business at 612-789-7337, x.260 or rsmolund@mccdmn.org. (Source: www.opentobusiness.org)

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Come explore Richfield and all the amazing attractions this wonderful city has to offer! Ready to start shopping for a new wardrobe? We have got you covered with a number of awesome places to find your perfect look. Looking to grab a bite to eat? Richfield has a number of great restaurants that are sure to cater to that special something you have been craving.

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